1st November 2018

Something to read

‘

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

’

Revelations 21:1-2 from full reading Revelation 21:1-6a

Something to think about

All Saints Day (celebrated today) is an opportunity to remember all the saints known and unknown throughout Christian history. But who are saints?

In the Anglican tradition saints are people who model holiness to be imitated and saints are a ‘cloud of witnesses’ which are there to encourage and strengthen us on our spiritual journeys. This is relevant to Christian Aid’s beliefs that Jesus inspired his followers to love God, love their neighbours and long for justice.

There are those who strive to ensure that there will be no more mourning or crying or pain on earth as it is now, not just in the new earth as depicted in today’s reading from Revelation. The passage depicts a time of renewal, where God’s hopes are glimpsed and shows a time without suffering, mourning, crying or pain are no longer part of the human condition.

Christian Aid has projects around the world working to bring renewal right now for people living in those places.

Something to do

The passage from Revelation shows a glimpse of God’s hope for the new heaven and the new earth. Take some time to think about what inspires you to bring renewal in your context at this time? Meditate on this and think about what specifically about the inspiration resonates with you most, how can you nourish and develop this on your own or in your community.

Something to pray

Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings you have given us and for opportunities of renewal. Help us to see where and how we can work for renewal on earth in our communities. We give thanks for the saints that have gone before us, strengthen us and help us to be more Christlike. Amen.

Today’s contributor is Jenny Holden a final-year ordinand in the Scottish Episcopal Church from the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, currently based in Edinburgh.